Acquisition of land needed to build new interchange going smoothly

AVON -- The process of acquiring the approximately 40 acres still needed to build the Interstate 90/Nagel Road interchange in Avon is on track.

"The estimate we've gotten so far to acquire all the property is $6 million," Avon Planning Coordinator Jim Piazza said. "We have 31 different property owners to negotiate with. We're hoping to complete the process in six to nine months."

The city will not have to relocate any homeowners to build the interchange, he said.

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The city plays no role in the acquisition process, except to write the check for property owners at the end of the negotiating process. Avon has done the engineering for the interchange, which will be built under Ohio Department of Transportation supervision, Piazza said.

The city hired ODOT-certified firms and engineers to complete the appraising and negotiating process for the needed land. If an agreement cannot be reached between the property owner and the firms, there's a chance the property could be acquired through eminent domain, Piazza said. If an agreement is reached, all the city has to do is write the check.

At Monday's City Council meeting, council had a second reading on an ordinance that would allow Finance Director William Logan to borrow $6 million to no more than $7.8 million to pay the property owners once the property is acquired.

"That money will be rolled in with all the other interchange costs and they will be converted into bonds down the line," Piazza said.

The acquisition process began last week, and so far no property owners have "signed the dotted line," Piazza said. He will receive an update late this week or early next week about any progress.

At a June 3 meeting, property owners in the interchange area expressed their opinions about being required to pay a third or $9 million of the interchange cost. The interchange will impact nearly 105 property owners. Some property owners will receive assessments in the millions, such as Henkel, which is close to $2 million.

The city will pay one-third of the cost, and The Jacobs Group will also pay a third.

Mayor Jim Smith said the property owners will be required to pay the assessments within 20 years. However, if someone is the owner of a farm or agricultural property, he or she is not required to pay anything on the assessment until the property is sold or developed.

"We didn't want any farms wanting to sell over this thing," Smith said. "We made sure this was one of the things we put out there, that their assessment will be on there but delayed."

Ever since that meeting, Smith said he hasn't received any further complaints about the assessment, and Piazza said he has actually received calls from owners who are excited about the benefits of the project.